According to Chad Vader - a local, if fictional, benefactor of public access television - Wisconsin's Cable Competition Bill (AB 207) crushes provisions for the sustained existence of public access funding and consumer protections.
In a public service announcement, the creators of Chad Vader called on Wisconsinites to oppose AB 207.
Unfortunately for Vader, the state Senate passed the bill on Nov. 9, shooting down amendments intended to augment consumer protections, fund community access channels and keep call center jobs in Wisconsin.
Evidently, in terms of securing such provisions, the force is with the 23 state senators who support AB 207 - not Vader. The Senate's version of AB 207 makes a valiant step toward opening the communications market to new competitors. It will eventually unshackle residents from the customer-hostile Charter monopoly, particularly in Madison.
But this is no excuse for the state Senate to discard amendments that would have made fair alterations to a bill that currently favors corporate interests.
Of paramount concern, the senate rejected an amendment to mandate a 1 percent fee on cable bills to fund public access channels. This provision would have emulated the Illinois State Video Franchise Law which allows municipalities to require all video providers, whether franchised by the state or local authority, to pay a 1 percent PEG fee or more, according to the fee paid by the current operator.
Without this amendment, in-kind technical support for PEG will cease, and local PEG agreements incorporated under state programming franchises will only last three years or the duration of the franchise term, whichever is shorter.
In addition, the Senate shot down an amendment requiring providers to maintain existing infrastructure connections of public facilities. As if to exacerbate the risk of empowering corporations beyond their rights, the Senate voted to keep the state franchise around forever rather than adopting a provision that would require re-evaluation after 10 years.
Wisconsinites and Vader face a troubling situation: It is unlikely the Republican-controlled Assembly will take issue with the Senate's version of AB 207, as it includes very few changes to the original draft. Even Doyle, who has called to maintain consumer protections, is expected to sign the bill. Of course, it is essential these rights come to fruition without the Frankenstein veto.
This leaves the Assembly with the responsibility to reconsider the failed amendments, to do right by their constituents and Chad Vader, to ensure public access funding and safeguards against exploitation.
Representatives of the Wisconsin Assembly, the force is with you: Amend the Cable Competition Bill.
